''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'' provides [[SelfDemonstratingArticle a lyric most redoubtable]]:\\The [[ModernMajorGeneral Major General's]] song therein is reckoned StockShoutOut-able,\\And [[Creator/WSGilbert Mr. Gilbert's]] verses, as a vehicle for [[StockParodies parody]]\\On many varied themes, are copied with particularity.\\To demonstrate the actor's elocution and acuity\\For rattling through fast-paced tongue twisters with full perspicuity,\\[[Music/ArthurSullivan Sir Arthur's]] tune is catchy, too -- though some can't name the latter's song,\\It's still become the model of the modern {{Filk|Song}} or PatterSong.\\

::It's still become, ''etc.''

Because the tune in question is so very recognizable\\To make a Trope about it is a project not despisable--\\And to be most laconic, any sort of MadeOfWin-full song\\Is likely to be based upon the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major-General%27s_Song Modern Major Gen'ral Song]].\\

::And to be most laconic, ''etc.''

The convention in operettas is to title songs by their first line, making the specific song being parodied actually entitled "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major-General."----!!Performed by Characters:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Advertising ]]

* A Geico commercial has a guy singing the Major General Song, dressed in costume.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Audio Play ]]

* In the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audio, "Doctor Who and the Pirates", the Sixth Doctor (Creator/ColinBaker) sings [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIdDXQ2h1Pc "I am the very model of a Gallifreyan buccaneer" ]] (and other songs from ''Pirates, Pinafore,'' and ''Mikado'' are parodied).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fanfic ]]

* In [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2864001/tenner tenner's]] ''Series/DoctorWho'' fanfic, "Growing Pains", Doc is captured and experimented on by alien hunters. He fights back by singing this song until they meet his demands. Over and over and over. For ''days.''* In ''[[FanFic/ElementalsOfHarmony Elementals of Harmony]]'', chapter seven has Pinkie Pie sing her own version: "I am the very model of a [[BreakingTheFourthWall modern cartoon character]]." And yes, [[MusicalWorldHypotheses there is a chorus]]. Par for the course with ponies, pretty much a hole-in-one with ''[[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie]]''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* TORN has one about Gandalf [[http://fan.theonering.net/writing/stories/files/whistler_sullivan.html here]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

* One episode of ''Series/BabylonFive'' has Marcus and Franklin taking a long journey to Mars in the cargo hold of a freighter. After Franklin gets tired of playing SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring (it doesn't take long), Marcus starts singing The Major General Song to pass the time. At the end of the episode, he sings the ''entire song'' [[CreativeClosingCredits over the credits]] in place of the normal music. Near the end of the song, you can hear the crew trying to make him stop. No, not the freighter's crew, the ''[[CrowningMomentOfFunny production crew]]''.* In the ''Series/Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip'' episode "The Cold Open", the cast performs a sketch including a parody of the song: "We'll be the very model of a modern network TV show."* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' staged a duet of the song with guest host and comedienne Gilda Radner and a seven-foot tall talking carrot. The scene bore an ironic resemblance to another scene in ''Pirates'', as Radner had requested a six-foot tall talking ''parrot'', but was misheard.** In the AwardShow episode, Scooter employed the tune to list all of the guest stars that had been on the show.* David Hyde Pierce's monologue, as host of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', was a parody of the song.* In the ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' episode "Fathers and Sons", Frasier, Niles and Leland Barton sing the first verse of the song. Martin tries to join in but [[{{Mondegreen}} confuses the lyrics]], singing "awful facts about the scary hippopotamus" (instead of "cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse").* In the ''Series/MadAboutYou'' episode "Moody Blues," Paul directs a charity production of ''Penzance'' starring his father, Burt, as the Major-General. Parts of rehearsal and performance of the song are shown. When the lyrics slip Burt's mind, he improvises a few lines about his son. During TheTag, Paul and Jamie sing a verse about the show's credit roster ("Now the show is over and you can watch the credits roll").* Doctor Cox's "Rant Song" from the ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' musical episode was based on the Major General's Song according to the creators.* Used for Russian spies' elocution lessons in the Britcom ''Sleepers''.* [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Geordi La Forge]] sings a few lines of it for Dr. Crusher when she's trying to persuade him to audition for her on-board production.* ''Series/SpittingImage'' did a parody of it with Neil Kinnock, basically to mock the fact that he had a tendency to speak very fast (and whose opponents thought he was speaking a load of rubbish).* In a more memorable scene from ''Series/HomeImprovement'', Al sings the first verse of it in what he thinks is a soundproof booth. It isn't, and as a result, he recieves a round of a applause when he comes out.* In ''Series/DiagnosisMurder'', Norman Briggs tried out for the role of the Major General, and Dr. Sloan helped him rehearse the Major General song. Briggs ended up playing one of the police officers. [[ButtMonkey Third police officer.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Magazines ]]

* An old ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' featuring the Kennedy family in a musical had UsefulNotes/DwightDEisenhower singing "I am the Very Model of a Modern Former President".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''Videogame/MassEffect2'', your [[MotorMouth motor-mouthed]] salarian MadScientist, bioweapons specialist and all-round genius Dr. Mordin Solus apparently at one point was the designated [[PatterSong patter singer]] in a [[AlienArtsAreAppreciated multi-species]] production of ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance''. If prompted, he will sing a re-working of the song called [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R5NyiqOlx0 I Am The Very Model of a Scientist Salarian]].** [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything If you got him to sing it in the second game]], the song appears again in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' [[spoiler:as a DarkReprise -- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNDLQlVEfGY Mordin sings it just before he dies]].]]* Colonel [[VideoGame/TalesoftheAbyss Jade Curtiss]] in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydiP-q9Ndl0 this]] Youtube video.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* UsefulNotes/BarackObama is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3NMA0MyaA0 the very model of a modern U.S. President]]* In ''Machinima/FreemansMind'' episode 45, the titular Freeman sings the entire song, then decides that it's "too dated", and begins making up his own verses that pertain to his current situation. Specifically, he sings it while fighting a squad of soldiers and a tank.--> ''[[ImprobableAimingSkills "I can fire at a target and hit it at least half the time"]]''\\''"or graph out an electron path while using only numbers prime"''\\''"I calculate the fall rate of a bullet shot a thousand yards"''\\''[[OneManArmy "I perforate the thick heads of a hundred military guards."]]''\\''"I can make a simulation of an atom bomb and build one too"''\\''"Or flank a dozen men and ambush ten of them right out of the blue"''\\''"From [[MoreDakka SMGs]] to [[StuffBlowingUp RPGs]], [[HyperspaceArsenal I carry quite an arsenal]]"''\\''"[[RoadRunnerPC And skip around a war zone like a sub-atomic particle.]]"''\\''[[FieryCoverup "Every soldier out here wants to kill me for my curiosity"]]''\\''[[EverythingTryingToKillYou "I wage war on the whole damn world]] [[{{Determinator}} because of my tenacity"]]''\\''[[BadassBookworm "In matters combat tactical and physics theoretical"]]''\\''"I am the very model of a modern Major-General."''\\WHERE'S MY CHORUS?!?!

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' a sober Barney completes an obstacle course while singing this.* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' has "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Zy6UcA8GA I am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual]]". (And the three siblings repeat the last line of it in their shot at the end credits of the episode.)* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' ended its third season with a recap of the entire season, set to the song's tune.* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', Brain sings a typically megalomaniacal parody of the song.* In ''TheWildThornberrys'' episode "Sir Nigel," Nigel Thornberry sings a pastiche of the song about his family.* In a ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' episode entitled "The Wonderful World of Auto-Tainment!", Archibald Asparagus sings the first two verses of this song when asked to sing about "Military Intelligence".* In ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'', our heroes apparently crash a ''Penzance'' performance, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIhb4ec5030 as pigs sing some of the first lyrics]].* In the ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "One Good Turn," after Agent P leaves, Major Monogram sings, "I am the very model of a modern Major Monogram / I've information vegetable and animal and hologram."

!!Songs:

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fanfic ]]

* A Fan-made [[Literature/HarryPotter Sorting Hat song]] [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/679299/1/A_Sorting_Song_by_Severus lyrics]].* [[http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/824242.html?thread=84487346#t84487346 "I am the Very Model of a]] [[ShipToShipCombat disgruntled]] [[Literature/HarryPotter Harmonian]]".* A rant about [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor's]] [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7438108/1/ policy regarding changing time]].* With apologies to Creator/NeilGaiman, a version for Vastra from ''Series/DoctorWho'':-->I am the very model of a monster-hunter general-->Whether threats are mundane or ethereal or temporal-->Thanks to the aid of my maid I have slayed them with a katana-->And made a vow until I have repaid the debt on my honour-->I'm happy in my scaly skin, and have a tongue that's prehensile-->Though my tastes in sex and sustenance are difficult to reconcile-->For my bedmate and my breakfast are both sentient mammalians-->(Incidentally, while I'm lizardlike, I'm technically not alien)-->I've been told that I should walk the boards and play a Shakespeare vill-i-an-->But Dickens' London is not ready for an actress so reptilian-->It's a shame because the name that I would gain would be the best I can-->Victorian, Silurian, lesbian, and thespian!* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'''s Rincewind is [[http://www.lspace.org/fandom/filks/discfilk/coward-fleeing-gainfully.html the very model of a coward fleeing gainfully]].* ''FanFic/FriendshipIsOptimalTheLawOfficesOfArtemisStellaAndBeat'': Vibrant is the very model of a modern magic unicorn.* The fanmade play HMS Dumbledore has Draco Malfoy sing "I am the very model of a future evil overlord".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Music ]]

* The FilkSong [[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~valkyrie/parody/xena.html "I am the Very Model of a Heroine Barbarian"]], said to be "from Creator/GilbertAndSullivan's little-known operetta, ''[[Series/XenaWarriorPrincess Xena; or, the Warrior Princess]]''."* Music/TomLehrer's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGM-wSKFBpo "The Elements"]] is described by the author as "the names of the chemical elements [[ToTheTuneOf set to a possibly recognizable tune]]," which ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' would in time require a drunken Sheldon to sing.** Further parodied by the AmateurTransplants with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXROnzpsrlg "The Drugs Song"]]* [[http://f2.org/humour/songs/usenetpersonality.html "I Am the Very Model of a Usenet Personality"]].* [[http://lyrics.wikia.com/Tom_Payne:I_Built_A_Better_Model_Than_The_One_At_Data_General "I Built a Better Model Than the One at Data General"]].* [[http://www.poppyfields.net/filks/00124.html "I Am the Very Model of a Genius Computational"]].* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hKG5l_TDU8 "I am the Very Model of a]] [[TechnologicalSingularity Singularitarian]]"* [[http://pendorwright.com/other/The_Modern_Sadomasochist.html "I Am the Very Model of the Modern Sadomasochist"]].* The Capitol Steps did a parody of this referring to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, "I am the Very Model of a Mad Attorney General". Recently (in 2010), a slightly altered version of this made the rounds in Virginia referring to [[http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/581/cooch-is-the-very-model-of-a-mad-attorney-general State Attorney General Ken Cucchinelli]].** Earlier, they did one about GeorgeWBush ending with the line "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major [[{{Malaproper}} Genital]]."** And now they've done one about General David Petraeus.** Back in 2004 they had one about Wesley Clark (who was running for President at the time) called "I am the Very Model of a Modern NATO General."* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3392B5R5BoA&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3392B5R5BoA%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&nomobile=1 "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Music Syllabus"]]* Steve Goodie's [[http://thefump.com/fump.php?id=1860 "The Big Bang Theory Song"]] is about ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

* "Please Hello" from ''Pacific Overtures'' has the British Captain's part as a parody (all the captains sing in their national "hats").-->"Hello, I come with letters from Her Majesty, Victoria,"\\"Who, hearing how you're trading now, sang Hallelujah, Gloria,"\\"And sent me to convey to you her positive euphoria"\\"As well as little gifts from Britain's various emporia."* ''Dirty Little Showtunes'' has "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Homosexual".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* The plot of ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'' summarised to the tune of the song: [[http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=395662&view=findpost&p=3312123 here]].* [[http://youtu.be/t4E_MScTXuo Khoodos]] has performed an eight-minute rendition of all of Pokemon's names from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' to the tune of Music/TomLehrer's "The Elements", that being based off of the "Modern Major-General Song".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' has a version [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0218.html here]].* ''21st Century Fox'' [[http://techfox.comicgenesis.com/d/20001121.html has this]] as part of a whole miniseries of Creator/GilbertAndSullivan spoofs.* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' gives us [[http://xkcd.com/1052/ Every Major's Terrible]], [[LampshadeHanging "which you may know from Tom Lehrer's "Elements"]], lampooning the stereotypes and downfalls of assorted academic fields. There are multiple renditions on Website/YouTube by fans.* ''Webcomic/PhoebeAndHerUnicorn'' has Marigold bragging about her Modern Magic Unicorn self, [[http://www.gocomics.com/heavenly-nostrils/2012/12/02 naturally]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* ''{{Wikipedia}}'', in a break with their usual sombreness, has [[http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Web_Encyclopedia_Song two]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Songs_about_Wikipedia/The_RfA_Candidate%27s_Song songs]] which use the tune ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Songs_about_Wikipedia among many others]]).* [[http://www.turoks.net/Cabana/IAmTheVeryModelOfAModernEsoteriscist.php Not one,]] but [[http://www.turoks.net/Cabana/IAmTheVeryModelOfAnEclecticWiccanPagan.php two]] Neopagan versions.* A "theater nerd" offers up [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMQ4phPPLHA A Very Model Halloween]].* There's a WebVideo/BenDrowned version here: [[http://pastebin.com/xBaJ2RRb Statue of the Elegy]].* There's a fan-made [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twGP7CGy9_Y tribute]] to the eccentric [[LetsPlay Let's Player]] LetsPlay/{{Raocow}}.* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7R_s_zwlM Modern Major]] [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rarity.]]* And, of course, ''Wiki/TVTropes'' has [[SelfDemonstratingArticle this very article]], as well as the self-demonstrating section of the PatterSong article.* Wiki/{{Uncyclopedia}} has [[http://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Uncyclopedian%27s_song the Uncyclopedian's Song]].